V Groove or Serpentine?

Whats is better for a high rpm street car?

  • V Groove

    Votes: 3 37.5%

  • Serpentine

    Votes: 5 62.5%
  • Total voters
    8
-
Ironracer

Ironracer

Gearhead
Joined
May 8, 2020
Messages
10,954
Reaction score
6,472
Location
Tampa Bay Florida
Hello Everyone,
Its time to change pulleys. I'm running 66 273 a/c pulleys on my 73 340. The overdrive water pulley keeps her cool in Tampa ( 185 at idle, sometimes 190 at a long light, cruise at 180) when I first installed them off my old mill, noticed sparks between wp and crank pulleys. I've also noticed my crank pulley has some run out to it. It's a power steering car, but have a manual box. Definitely losing the original power booster and going to dr diff master. Anyway, time to up the pulleys. Definitely going with CRV Racing. Any pros / cons for serpentine vs V belt
 
RustyRatRod said:
I don't think there's a difference properly set up.
Click to expand...
Call Dale I'm starting to lean towards the old school v because I'm about to put the car on a diet. The weather system is setup you got one belt power and the power steering off to crank so you can toss that still keep your alternator setup. the only reason I haven't tossed mine is cuz I like the fact the way I got the belt setup I have two belts on my water pump. But its a hassle getting the right belt for the alt. And with the pulleys, i know it's time to do something with it.
 
I went with the serpentine set up just for the look. Works great. I have the March pulley set up.
 
I hate March set ups. Just my opinion but I have installed more of them than most folks id bet. (March stuff is ok quality and their fit is, eh...... kinda ok (some are fu@ked and dont fit).....price wise its middle of the road. Some engines dont allow for true serpentine set ups with their system. They tend to ise belts that are a PITA to find (special order belts) ugh... ) i can probably go on but i wont.

On that note im not a fan of serpentine set ups for a few reasons.
1. Weight. Lots of extra parts required with serpentine set ups
2. Redundancy. You dont get any with a serpentine set up.
3. They dont look right on old cars.

All just my opinion but you did ask for opnions so. ..
 
Cope said:
I hate March set ups. Just my opinion but I have installed more of them than most folks id bet. (March stuff is ok quality and their fit is, eh...... kinda ok (some are fu@ked and dont fit).....price wise its middle of the road. Some engines dont allow for true serpentine set ups with their system. They tend to ise belts that are a PITA to find (special order belts) ugh... ) i can probably go on but i wont.

On that note im not a fan of serpentine set ups for a few reasons.
1. Weight. Lots of extra parts required with serpentine set ups
2. Redundancy. You dont get any with a serpentine set up.
3. They dont look right on old cars.

All just my opinion but you did ask for opnions so. ..
Click to expand...
I'm going with the v groove i reckon
 
Both my 340’s have the March v belt setup. Don’t have A/C or P/S. The only thing that’s a PITA is the adjuster locknuts are right behind the belt so crook neck wrenches are necessary.. otherwise no issues
 
Bewy said:
Fixing something that ain't broke........
Click to expand...
Well, the crank pulley has a.bit of run out. Wobbles. So while replacing, may as well upgrade. The factory type steel pulleys are actually a few bucks more than the aluminum ones. And, as I have ac pulleys off a 273, finding an alternator belt is a goat screw .
 
Last edited:
I had zero issues with pulley run out, alignment, fit or finish. OOTB & onto the engine, running down the Hwy. minutes later.
 
Twice with March kits I had to put their spacers on the mill to get pulleys aligned and once i had to make all the stand offs in the lathe because the ones in the kit were too short.
 
Cope said:
Twice with March kits I had to put their spacers on the mill to get pulleys aligned and once i had to make all the stand offs in the lathe because the ones in the kit were too short.
Click to expand...


Got a set on the Duster in the shop. Supposed to fit with a Fluidamper. Had to shim everything to fit.

I’m used to it. But it still pisses me off I had to do it.
 
Cope said:
Twice with March kits I had to put their spacers on the mill to get pulleys aligned and once i had to make all the stand offs in the lathe because the ones in the kit were too short.
Click to expand...
They need an icon for " wth?" Or " Grrrr"
 
Serpentine can give you greater area of belt contact as well
as a more rigid belt. They can also be tensioned by idlers on top of belt opposite the natural force of the belt wanting to expand off the pulleys. v-belts don't offer that.
 
pishta said:
Serpentine can give you greater area of belt contact as well
as a more rigid belt. They can also be tensioned by idlers on top of belt opposite the natural force of the belt wanting to expand off the pulleys. v-belts don't offer that.
Click to expand...

You've never seen a tensioner on the back side of a V belt? I've seen a lot of them.
 
Not really. Are these on stock apps? Most of my cars are newer and the 10 that I've had prior to that that had V-belts didn't have any tensioner cept the adjustable alternator but every ribbed belt I've come across has had a dedicated tensioner on top of the belt. Never tossed a ribbed belt.
 
Triple V belts on old GMC roots systems.

I prefer coged belts but thats just my taste.
 
pishta said:
Not really. Are these on stock apps? Most of my cars are newer and the 10 that I've had prior to that that had V-belts didn't have any tensioner cept the adjustable alternator but every ribbed belt I've come across has had a dedicated tensioner on top of the belt. Never tossed a ribbed belt.
Click to expand...

Yeah. A lot of the older Toyotees had setups like that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top